(Busia) – Enforcement officials in Busia have successfully thwarted a smuggling attempt involving a Coca-Cola distributing truck that was concealing more than five tons of assorted rice. The enforcement team had been closely monitoring the truck’s movements, suspecting that it was transporting rice illegally from the Busia area to Jinja and Kampala.
The vehicle was initially linked to a Coca-Cola distributor, raising concerns about the company’s involvement in the illicit activity. However, The Coca-Cola Company reached out to The Ankole Times to clarify that this truck is not part of their fleet.
To effectively counter the smuggling operation, two teams were strategically deployed in an ambush on different fronts. One team, operating from a pickup truck, conducted surveillance on the Dabani-Manji road, while another team covertly positioned itself at Naluwerere, which was identified as the target route.
Despite facing challenging weather conditions, including heavy rain and cold temperatures, the enforcement team persevered and successfully took control of the truck at 2:45 a.m. The vehicle was then escorted to a tactical yard for further investigation.
Upon verification of the truck’s contents, the enforcement officials discovered several types of rice, which included 60 bags of 25 kg Sana rice, 96 bags of 25 kg Baraf rice, 16 bags of 40 kg Mahmood rice, and 16 bags of 40 kg Zabib rice.
The truck’s specific ownership remains unclear, as customs enforcement has not provided details regarding its legal ownership. While Coca-Cola’s official transporters are expected to use authorized logistics partners, the company has stated that its distributors (OCCD) and stockists are not required to do so.
| Details | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Sana rice (25 kg bags) | 60 |
| Baraf rice (25 kg bags) | 96 |
| Mahmood rice (40 kg bags) | 16 |
| Zabib rice (40 kg bags) | 16 |
